By Camille S. Campbell
We share mutated love, you and I,
Misunderstood, as if we are Romeo and Juliet,
I fall in love with you, dear cell, because I need you.
A virus is destined to love its host,
no matter how many antibodies try to stop us,
our love will be so powerful, it can kill.
Because of my undying love, I will corrupt you,
I kiss your membrane, until we are fused together,
I dance with you, in the blood ballroom,
doing a terminal tango.
We will replicate, to show our undying love,
become stronger with every antigenic shift.
Let our love be infectious,
till cure do us part.
Reflection:
This poem is written from the perspective of a virus that is in love with its host. As I studied viruses during school, I became fascinated with the structure of viruses and the phases of infection. This interest evolved into my poem “Mutated Love.” In the poem, I draw reference to Romeo and Juliet and other teen love tropes, such as a corrupting rebel, dance parties and a dramatic love. Combining the elements of a love poem and the cycle of an infection, I weaved a poem about a deadly love.